Past, present and future travels around the United States in our motorhomes.

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Tuesday, July 24, 2012

Progress, No Matter How Slight

If you were a betting person, do you think I would actually get a call back from the Veterans Administration like I had an appointment for? Yes or No.

No. No call came. I really was not surprised. So today I called again. Got another appointment from the same electronic voice, this time only 47 minutes in the future instead of the several days like last week.

Do you think I got a call back in 47 minutes? Yes or No.

No. The call actually came back in 53 minutes, so I am not complaining. And I got to talk to a real live person.

This person was really on the ball and she found out why I've been hanging in limbo for so long.

Back in early May, I went in person (for a second time) to the VA Hospital in Columbia, SC to see what was going on with my claim. That person that "helped" me that day really didn't seem to care, but said she would submit a requets for an appointment and told me that they were all backed up and it would be a while before I heard anything.

The lady today said that according to the notes on my file, my claim and case file were closed on June 27, 2012. No reason given. Ah ha, that explains why I never heard anything. What it does not explain is why my case was closed.

Anyway, the nice lady sent a request to have my claim and case reopened. When I asked how long would it take until I heard something, she said the VA is supposed to contact me within 21 days, but it could take up to 60 days because they are so backed up. She advised me to call again in 21 days to see what, if any progress is being made on scheduling me an appointment.

At least now I know what was going on. Good thing I wasn't in dire need of a blood transfusion or a brain transplant, because I wouldn't have made it.

So, it is progress, no matter how slight. What this does do is put a crimp in our traveling plans. We were kicking around running up to Maine, attending the Gypsy Journal Rally in Ohio and spending a week in Branson, MO. We really can't lock anything in now, until I hear back from the VA. I guess we'll just have to continue our "Moockdocking". ;c)

My brother had a traveling nurse scheduled to come in last Friday. She showed up on Tuesday. That's not so bad. If you need a brain transplant or a blood transfusion, brush up on your acting skills and go to the emergency room. The service is pretty fast especially if it looks like you might die under their care.

Hubby recently retired from a govt job. With all the talk of budget cuts and obviously some loosing their jobs, it seems to have S L O W E D down things considerably...I would wonder too if the VA is not in on that...people will do what they can to provide job security for themselves. Used to be that once you got employed and past the first probationary time in a govt job, it was yours for life. But that is no longer the case...so now they go slower than molasses in January!!

Who are we?

Paul is a retired career U.S. Coast Guard Chief Warrant Officer (1981 to 2011) and Marti is a retired Nursing Home Administrator. We currently (2014) have three children, all married and eight grandkids.
We have traveled all around the U.S. in a high-speed, part time travel mode, whetting our desire to travel fulltime in our RV. On December 5, 2011, we realized our dream and headed out on the road as newly minted full time RV travelers.